True, strength training is still surging and steady-state cardio workouts are declining, but don’t let these macro trends fool you: Cardio equipment is still a must-have—and the machines are better than ever.

Cardio equipment has never provided more features than today, not only in terms of entertainment and connectivity, but also in providing training sessions that deliver optimized results. Programming choices in treadmills, ellipticals, stair-climbers, and other machines provide a range of workouts tailored to specific goals and fitness levels.

Also, even the most dedicated functional strength devotee still wants the option of performing sprints on a sturdy, versatile cardio unit that offers precise gradient and incline metrics. Rowers and stationary bikes are a staple of cross-training athletes, and that won’t change soon. Strength and functional training areas may be encroaching on the once-dominant cardio floor, but as cardio units improve, so will their appeal to all types of consumers.

As it stands today, Boomers and Gen X favor traditional cardio, according to the 2025 US Health & Fitness Consumer Report: Expanded Insights. In addition, cardio equipment generally sees higher utilization among women. The report says, “Women made up the majority of users for stair-climbers (58.0%), ellipticals (53.4%), and individual cycling equipment (52.3%). Even for kettlebells and treadmills, participation was close to an even split but still skewed slightly female.”

The bottom line: Know your membership demographics and make sure you provide for every segment. As the HFA report says: “Operators should design floor layouts and programming that reflect these generational training patterns, offering both strength-centric areas and low-impact cardio for longevity-focused members.”